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Columbia loses leading scorer to broken foot

Kyle Smith

Columbia coach Kyle Smith gives instructions during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Michigan State, Friday, Nov. 15, 2013, in East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State won 62-53. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)

AP

Columbia is hoping to compete with Ivy League leaders Harvard and Yale this season, but the Lions will have to do so in the early portion of the season without all-Ivy senior forward Alex Rosenberg.

According to a report from the Columbia Spectator, the 6-foot-7 Rosenberg suffered a Jones fracture in his right foot during practice on Friday. The typical recovery time for such an injury is six-to-eight weeks. If Jones fracture sounds familiar to you, it’s probably because Oklahoma City superstar Kevin Durant suffered the same injury this preseason.

Rosenberg was one of the best players in the Ivy League last year, averaging 16 points per game and garnering first-team all-Ivy honors.

“It’s hard, a lot of emotions in that, but he’s a strong kid,” Columbia head coach Kyle Smith said to the Spectator. “We feel bad for Alex, obviously, because he’s worked so hard and he’s been really important to our team.”

“But these things happen,” he added. “And we’re going to adjust.”

Coming off of a 21-win season and a third-round appearance in the CollegeInsider.com Tournament, the Lions were expected to compete for the league title this year as they return Rosenberg and other double-figure scorers like point guard Maodo Lo and guard Grant Mullins.

But without Rosenberg in the fold for around two months, the Lions will face some tough decisions. Ivy League play doesn’t begin until January 7th for Columbia, but if Rosenberg is slow to recover, he could choose to redshirt for the full season. As the Spectator story notes, the Ivy League doesn’t allow medical redshirts, so Rosenberg has to weigh his options.

Columbia could also benefit from the loss of Rosenberg by giving minutes to more inexperienced players and hoping that one of them emerges into an impact player. Sophomore forwards Luke Petrasek, Jeff Coby and Chris McComber are most likely to earn more playing time in Rosenberg’s absence.

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